Concerned about my cockerel

[faz669]

Its been a strange couple weeks for him, his favorite 2 hens were taken by a foxes in the afternoon. He has not been acting normal since, stays in the coop a alot. Likes to hide amongst trees and doesnt cuckoo/ wander round and peck nowhere near as much as he did.

He seems to be eating, excreting and drinking like normal. His eyes are wide open too. But he has lost all but one of his long tail feathers gradually (think this may happen every year but not sure) . Havent seen him mate with any of the remaining 2 hens since either. And he has also hit them a couple times around food, which he has NEVER done before.

And his face has gone white, which has never happened. Im not actually sure how old he is as it was my dads chicken and he passed away. I have attached some photos, has anybody got advise for this kind of situation? Is he just sad/scared? or is the white face and scared behavior maybe the sign of illness?

Thanks

 

[chrismahon]

He looks perfectly healthy, but may well be in shock if his eyes remain dilated like that outside. His tail feathers have either fallen out because he is moulting or, more likely, they were pulled out in the same fox attack. We have had a cockerel lost all his tail feathers and was knocked out, which probably saved him as he was left for dead to be eaten another day. We have also had a cockerel in perfect health go downhill rapidly for no visible reason and then die two weeks after his favourite hen died. He was very attached to her and stood for hours waiting for her to come out of the coop, presumably thinking she was laying?

So all you can do is wait and make sure the fox can't get anywhere near them again, because it will be back, perhaps every day, hoping for another meal.

 

[faz669]

Thanks for your reply. His tale feathers have definitely been gradually dropping and were nothing to do with the fox attack.

He has been waiting outside the coop for his hens to return too. I have put in safety measures against future fox attacks, it is mainly his health I am concerned about. Seems very sheepish, scared and lethargic. Not wondering around as much or making noise. No idea why his face has gone so white too.

 

[chrismahon]

The alternative is simply he is moulting, but I understand your concern about going pale which could perhaps be due to blood loss. Worth checking in the coop for red mite. There is plenty of information available about them. Another possibility is Northern Fowl Mite which tend to attack cockerels mainly, so he will need checking all over for bloody scabby patches on his skin, particularly around his vent area. A particularly nasty infestation because underneath the scabby skin the tiny creatures are feeding on the flesh.

 

[faz669]

Thanks, I have checked the coop and cannot see anything. No bloody or scabby patches on his skin either, seems healthy. Just lethargic and scared, barely moving from the safety of the coop.

 

[Icemaiden]

I wouldn't be surprised if he's showing the effects of stress. But Chris is definitely the expert here.

 

[faz669]

Seems a little happier now 2 new hens have been introduced, but has been sleeping in the coop on his own and gets grumpy around food and pecks other hens (he has never done this before and always been so generous with feeding his hens)

 

[faz669]

Still seems grumpy, still pecks other hens around food only (never did this before) and has completely stopped cuckoo'ing. Also slept in the straw boxes that the hens lay in a few times, never did that before either

 

[CherishedFowlGuardian]

I think he is missing her other girls is there a way you can add more chickens?